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Veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins sounds open to playing center for the Green Bay Packers in 2025, but a contractual adjustment might be required to make it work from the player’s side.
According to reporting from Jason Wilde of Channel 3000, Jenkins has not participated during the Packers’ offseason workout program so far because he wants to rework his contract before switching positions to center.
The Packers let Josh Myers depart in free agency and then spent big money in free agency on Aaron Banks, who is expected to start at left guard in 2025. Myers’ departure and the arrival of Banks will move Jenkins from guard to center, a position where he played extensively at the college level and has started games at the NFL level. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said Jenkins is “open” to the position change and “excited” about the move.
But Jenkins turns 30 years old this season and has only two years left on his current deal, and moving to center would, in theory, hurt his maximum earning ability on his next deal, whether it’s in Green Bay or elsewhere. Jenkins may want more long-term financial security from the Packers past 2025 considering he’ll be a prime cut candidate come 2026, when his cap number rises over $24 million and the team can save $20 million by moving on.
Jenkins has a non-guaranteed base salary of $11.7 million in 2025. From a salary cap standpoint, the only guaranteed money left in the deal is the prorated portion of Jenkins’ signing bonus. His base salary inflates to $18.5 million in 2026, the final year of his deal.
The Packers may have a tough decision ahead: the team can either rework the contract of a player about to change positions and turn 30 years old, or have a disgruntled player in the middle of the offensive line for 2025.
The Packers would likely prefer to see how Jenkins plays at center in 2025 before committing more money to him long term, especially given his age. Jenkins likely wants to increase his salary in 2025 and gain some kind of financial clarity in 2026.
Brian Gutekunst said the Packers think Jenkins can be an “All-Pro center” earlier this offseason. The top center contract in the NFL currently is Creed Humphrey at $18 million per season.
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